Warner Bros. Pictures
presents a film directed by Christopher Nolan. Written by Jonathan Nolan and
Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. Based on characters created by Bob
Kane. Running time: 164 min. Rated PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and
action, some sensuality and language).

It seems that as the
conclusion of any movie trilogy approaches these days, everyone points out
before they see the final installment that the third one never lives up to what
came before it. This is not one of those truths that our forefathers claimed to
be self evident, but perhaps it should be taken as one. It seems that without
fail, the third installment in a trilogy does fall somewhat short of its
predecessors. “The Dark Knight Rises”, which concludes the Christopher Nolan
directed trilogy of Batman films, is no exception.

That’s not to say that “The
Dark Knight Rises” isn’t good. It is well-made, well acted, complex, and
satisfying; but it never seems to find time for the same amount of depth that
the previous two films found in the Batman mythos. The movie is too concerned
with its plot to allow for a deeper purpose than to finish up Nolan’s story. It
lacks the character development of the previous films, although not as much is
necessary, since most of the major players are already established. It also
lacks the more laid back approach to its developments that the superior “The Dark
Knight” had. It’s urgency to move the plot forward doesn’t allow for the
gravity of the developments or its characters to set in.

It’s eight years after the
shocking events that concluded “The Dark Knight”. Batman hasn’t been seen since
the night when he took the fall for Harvey Dent’s evil actions. Bruce Wayne (Christian
Bale, “The Fighter”) has gone into seclusion, taking on the public image of the
later years of Howard Hughes. Gotham’s finest celebrate Harvey Dent Day, with
Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”) feeling the
guilt of deceiving the citizens of Gotham in order to preserve the White Knight
image of the city’s former DA. It is a deception that has worked however, as
Gotham’s crime rates have dropped to nearly non-existent. The mob influence
over the city has been eliminated through a law in Dent’s name that allowed
extreme measures by the Gotham Police Department. It seems the worst Gotham has
to offer are cat-burglars. But, they say there is always a period of calm
before the storm.

Enter Bane, a mysterious
criminal who we meet during a daring mid-air kidnapping of a nuclear physicist
from CIA custody. The physicist has plans to expose Bane’s operations to the
CIA. Bane has other plans for him. I was happy to see these plans hearken back
to those of the “Batman Begins” villain Ra’s Al Ghul. As a former member of Al
Ghul’s League of Shadows, Bane plans to fulfill the Demon’s plot to destroy
Gotham and allow it to be reborn.

In the comic book stories
I’ve read involving Bane, which are all fifteen years or older by now, Bane was
little more than a bully looking to start a fight. I like that in this plot
he’s actually looking to finish one. There still isn’t much to his character,
though. Actor Tom Hardy (“This Means War”) does the best he can with a mask for
a face during the entire story. He’s given the least amount of character
development of any major character in this Batman trilogy.

Catwoman is handled better.
Anne Hathaway (“Brokeback Mountain”) does well as a not-so-good-girl. She’s
employed by Bane to steal Wayne’s fingerprints. Wayne, of course, catches her
in the act, but doesn’t realize what her fence is until later. She intrigues
him. When Bane doesn’t deliver what he promised in payment, Catwoman is forced
to switch sides, something that becomes a habit for a thief that prefers to
come up on the winning side.

Another new character is the
rookie cop John Blake. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who was so stoic as Arthur in
Nolan’s last summer blockbuster “Inception”, is given a little more meat to
chew on here as a cop with the street smarts that Gordon admires. Gordon’s
deputy commissioner has gotten soft with the department’s newfound prosperity.
Blake’s intuition is needed as Gotham begins to plunge into a crisis bigger
than anyone imagined.

Also new to the game is
Miranda Tate, played by another Nolan favorite Marion Cotillard (“La vie en
rose”). Tate could be the savior that Wayne Industry needs to bring them out of
the financial ruin that Wayne’s seclusion has led them to, or she could be
something else. As a Batman fan, it didn’t take me long to figure out exactly
how she fit into the plot of the movie, for others it will be a surprise. Also
returning are Morgan Freeman (“Invictus”) as Lucious Fox, Batman’s gadget
supplier and Wayne’s CEO; and Michael Caine (“Journey 2: The Mysterious
Island”) as Alfred Pennyworth, Wayne’s butler and chief worrier.

One aspect of the movie that
bothered me was the conflict between Bruce and Alfred. Alfred doesn’t like what
Wayne has become since the death of his lifelong love Rachel Dawes, yet he also
seems opposed to Bruce taking up the mantle of the Bat again. It’s as if Alfred
can’t really decide what he wants for Bruce. Yes, he clearly states that he
desires to see Bruce take up a normal life, but Gotham also so obviously needs
Batman again. In my memory, Alfred was always Bruce’s chief supporter in
anything he chose to do for Gotham City. There is little support to be had from
Alfred in this movie. As Bruce’s only family, I found this a disheartening
direction in which to take his character.

Like any good sequel, “The Dark Knight Rises” raises the stakes for the
final chapter. Nolan and his co-screenwriter and brother Jonathan Nolan do a
good job giving the audience new action and images to dazzle them. They also
deliver a complex and well-structured story. What the movie seems to lack, in
comparison to the previous films, is its heart. It is all head. While it isn’t
as disappointing to the degree that many final chapters are, it isn’t as
powerful as the other two films in the series. This might discourage some fans,
but most will be happy to have another solid entry into the greater Batman
mythology.

No comments:

Followers

Star Rating Scale

About Me

Andrew D. WellsAndrew is a professionally trained actor and stage director. He was a reporter for the daily newspaper The Marshall Democrat-News. He has been critiquing film since Mr. Lucas released the first of his "Star Wars" prequels in 1999. His reviews can also be seen atMarshall Democrat-News